Interactive graphical user interface for television set-top box

Abstract

A graphical user interface (GUI) for a television set-top box which includes a web browser. The set-top box has an Internet data connection and is controlled from user inputs entered through a remote control device. The GUI generates menu screens that are superimposed over conventional television video images, so that the user can view browser graphics generated by the GUI while viewing television images in the background. The GUI further provides animated on-screen notifications of the presence of interactive content, such as hypertext links to World Wide Web pages, which may be associated with television content currently being received. The GUI can also provide animated on-screen notifications of other events, such as previously-specified dates and times or the end of a television commercial. A main menu screen includes function buttons which appear to slide back and forth. A two-state progress indicator indicates that a download is in progress and the degree of completeness of a download.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of generating a user interface, the method comprising the steps of: 
       receiving a television signal;  
       displaying video images on a display device;  
       detecting a predetermined event;  
       in response to detecting the predetermined event, displaying an animated character on the display device as a notification of the event as the video images are being displayed.  
     
     
       2. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting a predetermined event comprises the step of determining when a user-specified event has occurred. 
     
     
       3. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting a predetermined event comprises the step of detecting the end of a television advertisement. 
     
     
       4. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting a predetermined event comprises the step of determining whether secondary information associated with the television signal is available, wherein the secondary information includes hypertext data associated with a current content of the television signal. 
     
     
       5. A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined content comprises data for generating an interactive user interface. 
     
     
       6. A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined content comprises hypertext data corresponding to data originating from a computer network. 
     
     
       7. A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the hypertext data comprises data representing a World Wide Web page. 
     
     
       8. A method of enabling a client processing system to generate a user interface, the method comprising the step of transmitting sequences of instructions from a host processing system to the client processing system, the sequences of instructions including instructions which, when executed on the client processing system, cause the client processing system to perform the method recited in  claim 1 . 
     
     
       9. A processing system for connecting to a television set, the television set having a display device, the processing system comprising: 
       a processor;  
       a receiver coupled to the processor for receiving a television signal; and a  
       memory coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein sequences of instructions for configuring the processor to:  
       cause video images on the display device based on the television signal;  
       detect a predetermined event; and  
       display an animated character on the display device in response to detecting the predetermined event as the video images contained in the television signal are being displayed.  
     
     
       10. A processing system according to  claim 9 , wherein the event comprises a user-specified event. 
     
     
       11. A processing system according to  claim 9 , wherein the event comprises an end of a television advertisement. 
     
     
       12. A processing system according to  claim 9 , wherein the event comprises the availability of secondary information associated with the television signal, wherein the secondary information includes hypertext data associated with a current content of the television signal. 
     
     
       13. A processing system according to  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined content comprises data for generating an interactive user interface. 
     
     
       14. A processing system according to  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined content comprises hypertext data corresponding to data originating from a computer network. 
     
     
       15. A processing system according to  claim 14 , wherein the hypertext data comprises data representing a World Wide Web page.